โAs for the hadith which Abu Hurayrah narrated from the Prophet saying: [Woman, house, and animals signify evil omen] suspected to. be erroneously transmitted by him. Although he may hear the Prophet (said it), he does not understand it.โ
Ali & Abu Hurairah
It is also narrated that โAli ibn Abu Talib has said, โAmong all the living, the person who has told the most lies about the Messenger of Allฤh is Abu Hurayra al-Dawsi,โ as we read on p. 28, Vol. 4, of Ibn Abul-Hadeedโs Sharh Nahjul-Balฤgha.
Umar & Abu Hurairah
In his Musnad, Musaddad narrates through Khalid ibn Yahya who quotes his father quoting Abu Hurayra himself, saying that โUmar once reprimanded him on hearing that he was narrating incredibly too many traditions and attributing them to the Prophet. He rebuked him once and said,
โYou shall leave alone quoting the Messenger of Allฤh, or I shall send you back to the land Dous or to the land of apes.โ
A similar narration is also found in Abu Zurโa al-Dimashqi, Tarikh Abi Zurโa al-Dimashqi, p. 270, and on page 73 of โHadith Muhammadโs Legacy in the Medieval and Modern Worldโ in the following passage:
โThere is one report that โUmar b. al-Khattab told him [Abu Huraira], โIndeed, I say let the Prophetโs words alone or indeed Iโll send you back to the lands of [your tribe] Daws!โ
Additionally, it states in Sahih Muslim 31, it states:
It is reported on the authority of Abu Huraira: We were sitting around the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him). Abu Bakr and Umar were also there among the audience. In the meanwhile the Messenger of Allah got up and left us, He delayed in coming back to us, which caused anxiety that he might be attacked by some enemy when we were not with him; so being alarmed we got up. I was the first to be alarmed. I, therefore, went out to look for the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) and came to a garden belonging to the Banu an-Najjar, a section of the Ansar went round it looking for a gate but failed to find one. Seeing a rabiโ (i. e. streamlet) flowing into the garden from a well outside, drew myself together, like a fox, and slinked into (the place) where Godโs Messenger was. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Is it Abu Huraira? I (Abu Huraira) replied: Yes, Messenger of Allah. He (the Holy Prophet) said: What is the matter with you? replied: You were amongst us but got up and went away and delayed for a time, so fearing that you might be attacked by some enemy when we were not with you, we became alarmed. I was the first to be alarmed. So when I came to this garden, I drew myself together as a fox does, and these people are following me. He addressed me as Abu Huraira and gave me his sandals and said: Take away these sandals of mine, and when you meet anyone outside this garden who testifies that there is no god but Allah, being assured of it in his heart, gladden him by announcing that he shall go to Paradise. Now the first one I met was Umar. He asked: What are these sandals, Abu Huraira? I replied: These are the sandals of the Messenger of Allah with which he has sent me to gladden anyone I meet who testifies that there is no god but Allah, being assured of it in his heart, with the announcement that he would go to Paradise. Thereupon โUmar struck me on the breast, and I fell on my rear. He then said: Go back, Abu Huraira, So I returned to the Messenger of Allah (๏ทบ), and was about to break into tears. โUmar followed me closely, and there he was behind me. The Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be on him) said: What is the matter with you, Abu Huraira? I said: I happened to meet โUmar and conveyed to him the message with which you sent me. He struck me on my breast, which made me fall down upon my rear, and ordered me to go back. Upon this, the Messenger of Allah (๏ทบ) said: What prompted you to do this, โUmar? He said: Messenger of Allah, my mother and father be sacrificed for you, did you send Abu Huraira with your sandals to gladden anyone he met and who testified that there is no god but Allah, and being assured of it in his heart, with the tidings that he would go to Paradise? He said: Yes. Umar said: Please do it not, for I am afraid that people will trust in it alone; let them go on doing (good) deeds. The Messenger of Allah (๏ทบ) said: Well, let them.
In the book Taโwil Mukhtalif al-Hadith by Ibn Qutaybah (828-890 CE/213-276 AH), on page 70 of the Annotated Translation, Ibn Qutaybah says regarding Ali, โAisha, and โUmarโs view on Abu Hurarirah:
โAโishah was the most abrasive among those (companions) who rejected him [Abu Hurairah] and this ill-wind continued until the end of their lives. And so didโUmar, who was abrasive against whoever transmitted numerous ahadith or reported information related to judicial judgment without any witness. He used to order (the narrators) to reduce the number of narrations so that the masses will not be confused or corrupted by falsehood.
Abu Hurairah also had an ongoing dislike by the companions as they complained he narrated too many Hadith and was lying about the prophet. This feud is also cited in the above book by Ibn Qutaybah on pages 50-51 by al-Nazzam, who cited the following Hadiths criticizing Abu Hurairah. It is worth noting that Ibn Qutaybah doesnโt refute these claims but acknowledges a known feud between the closest companions and Abu Hurairah.
โDiscussing Abu Hurayrah, (al-Nazzam) criticized:..He used to report a hadith by walking with only a shoe and this was related to โAโishah. She then started to walk with one shoe only and said: [I want to be different from Abu Hurayrah.]
โ(Abu Hurayrah) reported that a dog, a woman and a donkey would nullify a prayer. And โAโishah said: [The prophet performeda prayer in the middle of (our_ bed while I was lying on (the same) bed, (barricading) himself from the Qiblah.]โ
โ(Al-Nazzam) said: [โAli was informed that Abu Hurayrah began his ablution with the right side. (โAli) in the same clothing headed for some water and started to take ablution beginning with his left side and then said: [I want to be different from Abu Hurayrah.]โ
โ(Abut Hurairah) used to say: [My dear friend told meโฆmy dear friend saidโฆI saw my dear friendโฆ!] And โAli said to him: [Since when did the prophet become your dear frien, O Abu Hurayrah?]
โ(Al-Nazzam) sadi that Abu Hurayrah has reported [Whoever was in the state of janabah (major impurity) by (the early part of) the day time should not fast.] On this matter, Marwan sent a messenger to ask โAโishah and Hafsah, they replied: [The Prophet was in the state of janabah by (the early part of) day time and was also in the state of ihtilam (wet dream) but he performed his fasting.] (Marwan) then said to the messenger: [Go and tell Abu Hurayrah of this information!] Abu Hurayrah replied: [Indeed I have narrated this hadith and so did al-Fadl ibn al-โAbbas, the martyr.] But the masses doubted that (Abu Hurayrah) has heard this (information) from the Prophet.โ
Additionally, we see Abu Hurairah getting caught narrating false statements regarding the prophet in the following Hadith.
Narrated Abu Hurairah: The Messenger of Allah (๏ทบ) as saying: There is no transitive disease, no evil omen, or serpent in a hungry belly, and no hamah. A nomadic Arab asked: How is it that when camels are in the sand as if they were gazelles and a mangy camel comes among them and it gives them mange? He replied: Who infected the first one? Maโmar, quoting al-Zuhri said: A man told me that Abu Hurairah narrated to him saying that he heard the Prophet (๏ทบ) say: A diseased camel should not be brought with a healthy camel to drink water. He said: The man then consulted him and said: Did you not tell us that Prophet (๏ทบ) had said: There is no transitive disease, no serpent in a hungry belly and no hamah? He replied: I did not transmit it to you. Al-Zuhri said: Abu Salamah said: He had narrated it and I did not hear that Abu Hurairah had ever forgotten any tradition except this one.
Sunan Abi Dawud 3911
https://sunnah.com/abudawud:3911
See also https://sunnah.com/muslim:2220a, https://sunnah.com/muslim:2221a
Ibn Kathir & Abu Hurairah
In Ibn Kathirโs book, โThe Caliphate of Banu Umayyah,โ under the section on the year 59 AH, he narrates that the Prophet beat Abu Hurairah with a rod. And that when Abu Hurairah was on his deathbed, he confessed uncertainty as to whether he was destined for Paradise or Hellfire.
Abu Hurairah Never Forgets
How did Abu Huraira remember so many Hadith?
Narrated Al-Aโraj: Abu Huraira said, โYou people claim that Abu Huraira narrates many narrations of Allahโs Messenger (๏ทบ). (Anyhow) with Allah will be our appointment. I was a poor man and used to stick to Allahโs Messenger (๏ทบ), contented with what will fill my stomach, and the Muhajirin (emigrants) used to be busy trading in the markets, and the Ansar used to be busy looking after their properties. One day I heard Allahโs Messenger (๏ทบ) saying, โWho will spread his Ridaโ (a garment covering the upper part of the body) till I finished my speech and then fold it (i.e. wrap it over your body) in which case he will never forget anything he had heard from me.โ So I spread my garment which I was wearing; and by Him Who sent Muhammad with the Truth, ever since, I have never forgotten whatever I heard from him (the Prophet)โ
Sahih al-Bukhari 7354
https://sunnah.com/bukhari:7354
Even this narration above contradicts another narration from Abu Huraira regarding how this event supposedly transpired.
Narrated Abu Huraira: I said, โO Allahโs Messenger (๏ทบ)! I hear many narrations from you, but I forget them.โ He said, โSpread your covering sheet.โ I spread my sheet, and he moved both his hands as if scooping something and emptied them in the sheet and said, โWrap it.โ I wrapped it around my body, and since then, I have never forgotten.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3648
https://sunnah.com/bukhari:3648
Al-Aโraj reported that he heard Abu Huraira as saying: You are under the impression that Abu Huraira transmits so many ahadith from Allahโs Messenger (may peace up upon him); (bear in mind) Allah is the great Reckoner. I was a poor man and I served Allahโs Messenger (๏ทบ) being satisfied with bare subsistence, whereas the immigrants remained busy with transactions in the bazar; while the Ansar had been engaged in looking after their properties. (He further reported) that Allahโs Messenger (๏ทบ) said: He who spreads the cloth would not forget anything that he would hear from me. I spread my cloth until he narrated something. I then pressed it against my (chest), so I never forgot anything that I heard from him.
Sahih Muslim 2492a
https://sunnah.com/muslim:2492a
Nonsensical Hadith Attributed to Abu Hurairah
Probably no other narrator has done more to convince people of the ridiculousness and absurdity of Hadith than the narrations of Abu Hurarirah.
Moses & the Stone
Narrated Abu Huraira: Allahโs Messenger (๏ทบ) said, โ(The Prophet) Moses was a shy person and used to cover his body completely because of his extensive shyness. One of the children of Israel hurt him by saying, โHe covers his body in this way only because of some defect in his skin, either leprosy or scrotal hernia, or he has some other defect.โ Allah wished to clear Moses of what they said about him, so one day while Moses was in seclusion, he took off his clothes and put them on a stone and started taking a bath. When he had finished the bath, he moved towards his clothes so as to take them, but the stone took his clothes and fled; Moses picked up his stick and ran after the stone saying, โO stone! Give me my garment!โ Till he reached a group of Bani Israel who saw him naked then, and found him the best of what Allah had created, and Allah cleared him of what they had accused him of. The stone stopped there and Moses took and put his garment on and started hitting the stone with his stick. By Allah, the stone still has some traces of the hitting, three, four or five marks. This was what Allah refers to in His Saying: โ โO you who believe! Be you not like those Who annoyed Moses, But Allah proved his innocence of that which they alleged, And he was honorable In Allahโs Sight.โ (33.69)
Sahih al-Bukhari 3404
https://sunnah.com/bukhari:3404
BAD TAFSIR
Hammim b. Munabbih reported: This is what Abu Huraira reported to us from Allahโs Messenger (๏ทบ) and in this connection he narrated some of the ahadith and Allahโs Messenger (๏ทบ) said: It was said to people of Israel: Enter this land saying Hitta (Remove Thou from us the burden of our sins), whereupon We would forgive you your sins, but they twisted (this statement) and entered the gate dragging upon their buttocks and said: Theโ grain in the ear.โ
Narrated Abu Huraira: The angel of death was sent to Moses and when he went to him, Moses slapped him severely, spoiling one of his eyes. The angel went back to his Lord, and said, โYou sent me to a slave who does not want to die.โ Allah restored his eye and said, โGo back and tell him (i.e. Moses) to place his hand over the back of an ox, for he will be allowed to live for a number of years equal to the number of hairs coming under his hand.โ (So the angel came to him and told him the same). Then Moses asked, โO my Lord! What will be then?โ He said, โDeath will be then.โ He said, โ(Let it be) now.โ He asked Allah that He bring him near the Sacred Land at a distance of a stoneโs throw. Allahโs Messenger (๏ทบ) (p.b.u.h) said, โWere I there, I would show you the grave of Moses by the way near the red sand hill.โ
Sahih al-Bukhari 1339
https://sunnah.com/bukhari:1339
Solomonโs Wives
Abu Huraira reported Allahโs Apostle (๏ทบ) as saying that Sulaiman b. Dawud (once) said: I will go round in the night to my ninety wives, and every one of them will give birth to a child (who will grow up) as a horseman and fight in the cause of Allah His companions said to him: Sayโ Inshaโ Allah.โ but he did not say Inshiiโ Allah. He went round all of them but none of them became pregnant but one, and she gave birth to a deformed child. And by Him in Whose hand is the life of Muhammad, if he had said, Inshaโ Allah (his wives would have given birth to the children who would all have grown up into horsemen and fought in the way of Allah).
Sahih Muslim 1654e
https://sunnah.com/muslim:1654e
Buring the ant colony
Narrated Abu Hurairah: I heard Allahโs Messenger (๏ทบ) saying, โAn ant bit a Prophet amongst the Prophets, and he ordered that the place of the ants be burnt. So, Allah inspired to him, โIt is because one ant bit you that you burnt a nation amongst the nations that glorify Allah?โ
Abu Huraira reported Allahโs Apostle (๏ทบ) as saying: When anyone wipes himself with pebbles (after answering the call of nature) he must make use of an odd number and when any one of you performs ablution he must snuff in his nose water and then clean it.
Sahih Muslim 237a
https://sunnah.com/muslim:237a
Narrated Abu Huraira: That once he was in the company of the Prophet (๏ทบ) carrying a water pot for his ablution and for cleaning his private parts. While he was following him carrying it (i.e. the pot), the Prophet (๏ทบ) said, โWho is this?โ He said, โI am Abu Huraira.โ The Prophet (๏ทบ) said, โBring me stones in order to clean my private parts, and do not bring any bones or animal dung.โ Abu Huraira went on narrating: So I brought some stones, carrying them in the corner of my robe till I put them by his side and went away. When he finished, I walked with him and asked, โ What about the bone and the animal dung?โ He said, โThey are of the food of Jinns. The delegate of Jinns of (the city of) Nasibin came to meโand how nice those Jinns wereโand asked me for the remains of the human food. I invoked Allah for them that they would never pass by a bone or animal dung but find food on them.โ
Sahih al-Bukhari 3860
https://sunnah.com/bukhari:3860
5 kinds of Martyrs
It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the, Messenger of Allah (๏ทบ) said: While a man walks along a path, finds a thorny twig lying on the way and puts it aside, Allah would appreciate it and forgive him The Prophet (๏ทบ) said: The martyrs are of five kinds: one who dies of plague; one who dies of diarrhea (or cholera); one who is drowned; one who is buried under debris and one who dies fighting in the way of Allah.
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (๏ทบ) said, โWhile a man was riding a cow, it turned towards him and said, โI have not been created for this purpose (i.e. carrying), I have been created for plowing.โ The Prophet (๏ทบ) added, โI, Abu Bakr and Umar believe in the story.โ The Prophet (๏ทบ) went on, โA wolf caught a sheep, and when the shepherd chased it, the wolf said, โWho will be its guard on the day of wild beasts, when there will be no shepherd for it except me?โ โAfter narrating it, the Prophet (๏ทบ) said, โI, Abu Bakr and Umar too believe it.โ Abu Salama (a sub-narrator) said, โAbu Bakr and `Umar were not present then.โ
Sahih al-Bukhari 2324
https://sunnah.com/bukhari:2324
Satanโs Antics
Narrated A bu Huraira: The Prophet (๏ทบ) said, โWhen the call for the prayer is pronounced, Satan takes to his heels, farting with noise, When the call for the prayer is finished, he comes back. And when the Iqama is pronounced, he again takes to his heels, and after its completion, he returns again to interfere between the (praying) person and his heart, saying to him. โRemember this or that thing.โ till the person forgets whether he has offered three or four rakat: so if one forgets whether he has prayed three or four rakat, he should perform two prostrations of Sahu (i.e. forgetfulness).
Sahih al-Bukhari 3285
https://sunnah.com/bukhari:3285
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (๏ทบ) said, โ If anyone of you rouses from sleep and performs the ablution, he should wash his nose by putting water in it and then blowing it out thrice, because Satan has stayed in the upper part of his nose all the night.โ
Sahih al-Bukhari 3295
https://sunnah.com/bukhari:3295
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (๏ทบ) said, โWhen you hear the crowing of roosters, ask for Allahโs Blessings for (their crowing indicates that) they have seen an angel. And when you hear the braying of donkeys, seek Refuge with Allah from Satan for (their braying indicates) that they have seen a Satan.โ
Sahih al-Bukhari 3303
https://sunnah.com/bukhari:3303
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (๏ทบ) said, โAllah loves sneezing but dislikes yawning; so if anyone of you sneezes and then praises Allah, every Muslim who hears him (praising Allah) has to say Tashmit to him. But as regards yawning, it is from Satan, so if one of you yawns, he should try his best to stop it, for when anyone of you yawns, Satan laughs at him.โ
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (๏ทบ) once offered the prayer and said, โSatan came in front of me and tried to interrupt my prayer, but Allah gave me an upper hand on him, and I choked him. No doubt, I thought of tying him to one of the pillars of the mosque till you get up in the morning and see him. Then I remembered the statement of Prophet Solomon, โMy Lord! Bestow on me a kingdom such as shall not belong to any other after me.โ Then Allah made him (Satan) return with his head down (humiliated).โ
Sahih al-Bukhari 1210
https://sunnah.com/bukhari:1210
Bad Science
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (๏ทบ) said, โ Allah created Adam, making him 60 cubits tall. When He created him, He said to him, โGo and greet that group of angels, and listen to their reply, for it will be your greeting (salutation) and the greeting (salutations of your offspring.โ So, Adam said (to the angels), As-Salamu Alaikum (i.e. Peace be upon you). The angels said, โAs-salamu Alaika wa Rahmatu-l-lahiโ (i.e. Peace and Allahโs Mercy be upon you). Thus the angels added to Adamโs salutation the expression, โWa Rahmatu-l-lahi,โ Any person who will enter Paradise will resemble Adam (in appearance and figure). People have been decreasing in stature since Adamโs creation.